Skip to main content

In Memory of Gene Mitchell...

I did not know Gene Mitchell well...it seems that I missed out on a huge blessing. The funeral service was very nice and it was officiated by Gene's former pastor and good friend and current pastor and good friend...both. It was touching and positive and very much to the point. Gene was a good Christian man that lived a good Christian life, touching the lives of nearly every person who met him. While I was not close to Gene or his beautiful wife, Ann, I knew him as a kind, funny man who thoroughly loved his family and what I learned today said much the same. Hubby left the service and said how much he would like for people to say those things about him at his service...but that he didn't think they could.

(We were just babies then! August 8th, 1997)

Hubby and I have been together for over twelve years now, and married for more than eleven. I used to think "What am I doing wrong that I cannot help him to feel better about himself?" Now I better understand that I can't just make everything better...that it will take God's working in Hubby's life and ALL the people that love hubby to make that happen. Hubby is kind, generous, and a great husband and father. We really couldn't ask for better!

Hubby's biggest downfall? That he is SO hard on himself - I honestly think that you could call his words to himself abusive in the strictest sense of the word. I know a non-Christian husband can be won to Christ through a godly wife. But how can a simple wife bless a self-abusing husband? If any of you have an idea I would love to hear it. I would love for Hubby to see himself the way others do...and the way others saw Gene Mitchell. A godly man with a true heart for God first, family second and others lastly - but JUST as important.


Be well and be blessed...

Comments

Wilderness Mama said…
Well, I'm sure you are already doing this a lot, but the best thing I can think of is to just continually encourage him. It's always good to improve on your weaknesses, but you definitely need encouragement too. Just show him through the last few years how different decisions he has made for your family or for others have made such an impact and will continue to impact for many years to come!

Such kind words about the man who died. That would be so hard. I'll be praying for the family!
December 9, 2008 at 1:34 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

On the Brink of More Change...

I can feel it. I am on the cusp of something new. Something different. Something beautiful. I still have no idea what God might be up to - and I am truly okay with that at the moment. I have completed another round of Freedom in Christ. God spoke to me in so many ways...and He continues to do so. I feel so very valued and treasured by my Father. I am in relationship with Him in ways that I always wanted - yet never really felt were achievable. As I have put forth the effort to come to Him more consistently and with a growing desire to go deeper, He has been unendingly gracious and faithful. So as I fall on my face, He gently leans in and scoops me up. The panic and anxiety that once ruled my life are far less, and the calm amidst the  chaos has grown exponentially. I know where to go when it begins to grow again...and it does. Sometimes. Yet God is always ready when I call on Him...and that in and of itself are a learning curve for me. I've learned that others are not constant. Sh...
Post a Comment
Read more

I Have Returned to the Land of the Living...

I promise that I'm around and making it here! It's been pretty crazy what with starting school and becoming a leader in our homeschool support group. (In my defense, I didn't realize that was what I was doing. I thought I was going to coordinate the holiday parties...turns out when you only have one active officer, said officer reserves the right to make you a leader in that group. Hmm. The things you learn. :) School is going okay...or should I be more specific? Social studies, Language Arts and Science are going okay...mathematics? Not so great. We have determined that Hooked on Math is NOT a good match for my child. He gets SO frustrated he winds up in tears within seconds of the MENTION of "Hooked on Math". (While I must admit that a portion of this is due to his processing issues and I want him to learn to be more flexible, I NEVER want him to be THIS stressed out. Therefore we are searching for a new math program/curriculum. I am very interested in Math-U-Se...
4 comments
Read more

Keeping My Eyes Fixed In the Storms of Life

On September 20th, my father-in-law collapsed at home. My mother-in-law called 9-1-1 and emergency crews arrived within a few minutes. During that time, he stopped breathing and had no heartbeat. Emergency crews were able to revive him, and he was transported to a local heart hospital. The next two weeks were nothing short of torturous. In order to stop potential brain damage, he underwent a procedure that chilled his core body temperature almost 10 degrees and then after 24 hours, warmed him to normal body temp. Doctors were unsure if he would awake. However, after 12 days on the ventilator, when it was removed, it was like someone flipped a switch. He simply woke up. Even the doctors were amazed. Still groggy from the medications used during that time, he remembers nothing from that time, until about 5 days later, shortly before he had his pacemaker installed. Twenty-two days after his "cardiac event", he was released from the hospital. Still quite weak, he continues to g...
Post a Comment
Read more